COilPOSITE FAMILY. 



203 



where it infests gras^p^ots, begiuDing to flower in June, and continuing 

 until the frost. The flowers much resemble those of the Dandelion. 

 Varies with the leaves, more or less hispid. 



30. TEAGOPO'GON, Tournef. Salsify. 



[Greek, Tragos, a goat, and Pogon, a beard ; in allusion to the pappus.] 



Heads many-flowered. Involucre in a nearly single series ; scales 8 - 

 16, somewhat united at the base, finally reflexed. Akenes sessile, with a 

 lateral areola at base, scabrous, terminating in a long continuous ]>eak. 

 Pappi'is in several series, — all plumose except the 5 outer ones, which 

 are longer than the rest. Biennial or perennial herbs. Leaves sublinear, 

 witli parallel nerves. 



1. T. poerifo'lium, L. Glabrous ; leaves lance-linear, acuminate, very 



entire ; penduncles somewhat obcouical, fistular ; scales of the involucre 



about 8, lanceolate, acute, longer than the florets. 



Leek-leaved Teagopogon. Oyster-plant. Salsify. 



Fr. Salsifis. Germ. Der Bock-bart. Span. Barba cabruna. 



Plant glabrous and somewhat glaucous. Boot biennial? (annual DC), fleshy and fusi- 

 form. Stem 3-4 or 5 feet high, sparingly and somewhat dichotomously branched. Leaves 

 6-12 or 15 inches long, ovately dilated at base, and tapering to a long narrow acumiua- 

 tion, keeled, sessile and semi-araplexicaul, somewhat distichous. Heads terminal, on en- 

 larged clavate hollow peduncles. Florets violet-purple with a fuscous tinge. Akenes 

 lance-oblong, striate-sulcate, scabrous, tapering to a smooth slender beak, about an inch 

 in length, and supporting the pappus at summit. 



Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



Ohs. This is frequently cultivated for its fleshy root, — which, Avhen 

 properly cooked, has something of the flavor of fried Oysters ; whence 

 one of its common names. 



31. TAEAX'ACUM, Haller. Dandelion. 



[Greek, Tarasso, to stir or disturb ; in allusion to its supposed active properties.] 



Heads many-flowered. Involucre double, — the outer scales small, 

 appressed, spreading or reflexed — the inner ones erect, in a single series. 

 Akenes oblong, striate-ribbed or angled, minutely muricate on the ribs, 

 often spinellose at summit, — the apex abruptly produced into a long 

 slender beak. Pappus in many series, capillary, very white. Perennial 

 stemless herbs : leaves, consequently, all radical. Heads of flowers mostly 

 solitary, on simi^le fistular naked scapes. 



1. T. Bens-leo'nis, Desf. Leaves lauoe-oblong, unequally and acutely 

 runcinate, — the lobes triangular, dentate anteriorly ; scales of the 

 involucre not corniculate at apex, the outer ones reflexed. 

 LiON-TOOTii Taeaxacum. Daudeliou. 



Er. Dent de Lion. Germ. Der Loewenzahn. Span. Amargon. 



Plant at first somewhat pubescent, at length smooth. Root perennial. Leaves 4 -10 or 

 12 incaes long. -Scapes several from the same root, 4-12 or 15 inches long (elongating), 



